Myctophum aurolaternatum Garman, 1899
Golden lanternfish
Myctophum aurolaternatum
photo by Ernst, J.

Family:  Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae
Max. size:  11 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden to Sofala Bank; Agulhas Current south to about 31°S. Eastern Indian Ocean: Indonesia to northwestern Australia (5°N-18°S). Western Pacific: southeast Asian seas. Eastern Pacific: Hawaii (Ref. 58302) and Panama to 04°15'S, 83°37'W of Peru (Ref. 5530); with more northerly distribution starting at 25°N (Ref. 31442). This fish comes from Xisha Islands and Zhongsha Islands of the South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-14; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-27; Vertebrae: 42-46. Anal organs 17; supracaudal gland of males with 6-9 triangular, overlapping scales; infracaudal gland of females with 3-7 rounded, usually contiguous luminous scales (Ref. 39633).
Biology:  Neustonic (Ref. 58302). High-oceanic and mesopelagic. Found from the surface to 300 m at night (Ref. 4066). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 31442).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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